Nancy Pelosi Taiwan Visit Highlights: China Vows 'Targeted Military Actions' As US Speaker Lands In Taipei
Nancy Pelosi Taiwan Visit Latest News: Tensions between US and China over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit have intensified. Follow this blog for latest updates.
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Nancy Pelosi Taiwan Visit Latest News: Amid soaring tensions between US and China, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday evening. Pelosi, travelling by US Air Force jet, landed at the Taiwanese capital Taipei this evening, according to Taiwanese media reports.
It is expected that Pelosi will meet President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday, defying Beijing's repeated warnings. China was warned that the visit by Pelosi would lead to very serious situation and grave consequences.
Both China and Taiwan on Tuesday stepped up military deployments across the Taiwan Strait, reports said. China considers Taiwan its territory and has indicated to the US that it would view Pelosi's visit as a major provocation.
The US' one-China policy recognises Beijing to be the legitimate government of China. However, it maintains informal relations and defense ties with Taiwan.
China has warned of repercussions, saying its military will "never sit idly by" if Pelosi pushes ahead with the visit.
"The US side will bear the responsibility and pay the price for undermining China's sovereign security interests," AFP quoted foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying as saying at a press briefing in Beijing.
The United States has said that it would not be intimidated by Chinese "sabre rattling". "We will not take the bait or engage in sabre rattling. At the same time, we will not be intimidated," White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters in Washington.
The fresh tensions, on the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war, have driven concerns of a new crisis in the Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan and China, that could roil global markets and supply chains.
Nancy Pelosi Taiwan Visit Live: Taiwan Says 21 Chinese Military Jets Flew Into Air Defense Zone
Taiwan's defence ministry said 21 Chinese military planes flew into the island's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Russia said China had the right to take measures to protect its 'sovereignty' amid US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit.
Nancy Pelosi Taiwan Visit Live: Pelosi's Flight Avoided South China Sea, Was Escorted By 8 US Jets
Pelosi and her delegation of Democratic party lawmakers were met by Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and Sandra Oudkirk, the director of the American Institute in Taiwan, which serves as Washington's de facto embassy. The flight path avoided the contested South China Sea and was escorted by eight US Air Force fighter jets as well as Taiwan Air Force fighter aircraft.
Nancy Pelosi Taiwan Visit Live: China Vows 'Targeted Military Actions', Slams US
China has vowed "targeted military actions" in response to Nancy Pelosi Taiwan visit, AFP reported. China also slammed the United States' actions in Taiwan as "extremely dangerous". "The US is taking provocative actions that could escalate tensions across the Taiwan Straits," China said.
Nancy Pelosi Taiwan Visit Live: Visit Does Not Contradict US Policy Toward China, Says Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi said her Taiwan visit 'in no way contradicts' US policy toward China. "Our visit is one of several Congressional delegations to Taiwan -- and it in no way contradicts longstanding United States policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, US-China Joint Communiques and the Six Assurances," she said. "The United States continues to oppose unilateral efforts to change the status quo," the US House of Representatives Speaker said.
Nancy Pelosi Taiwan Visit Live: US' Solidarity With Taiwan More Important Today Than Ever, Says Pelosi
After arriving in Taiwan despite warnings by China, Nancy Pelosi said the visit honored America's unwavering commitment to support Taiwan's vibrant democracy. "Our discussions with Taiwan leadership reaffirm our support for our partner and promote shared interests, including advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region," Pelosi said. "America’s solidarity with the 23 million people of Taiwan is more important today than ever, as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy," she further said.
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